nd there paid off
the Guift, where late at night, and so called in and eat a bit at Sir W.
Batten's again, and so home and to bed, to-morrow being washing day.

11th. At the office all the morning, and all the afternoon rummaging of
papers in my chamber, and tearing some and sorting others till late
at night, and so to bed, my wife being not well all this day. This
afternoon Mrs. Turner and The. came to see me, her mother not having
been abroad many a day before, but now is pretty well again and has made
me one of the first visits.

12th. At the office from morning till night putting of papers in order,
that so I may have my office in an orderly condition. I took much pains
in sorting and folding of papers. Dined at home, and there came Mrs.
Goldsborough about her old business, but I did give her a short answer
and sent away. This morning we had news from Mr. Coventry, that Sir
G. Downing (like a perfidious rogue, though the action is good and of
service to the King,

[("And hail the treason though we hate the traitor.") On the 21st
Charles returned his formal thanks to the States for their
assistance in the matter.--B.]

yet he cannot with any good conscience do it) hath taken Okey,
Corbet, and Barkestead at Delfe, in Holland, and sent them home in the
Blackmore. Sir W. Pen, talking to me this afternoon of what a strange
thing it is for Downing to do this, he told me of a speech he made
to the Lords States of Holland, telling them to their faces that he
observed that he was not received with the respect and observance now,
that he was when he came from the traitor and rebell Cromwell: by whom,
I am sure, he hath got all he hath in the world,--and they know it too.

[Charles, when residing at Brussels, went to the Hague at night to
pay a secret visit to his sister, the Princess of Orange. After his
arrival, "an old reverend-like man, with a long grey beard and
ordinary grey clothes," entered the inn and begged for a private
interview. He then fell on his knees, and pulling off his disguise,
discovered himself to be Mr. Downing, then ambassador from Cromwell
to the States-General. He informed Charles that the Dutch had
guaranteed to the English Commonwealth to deliver him into their
hands should he ever set foot in their territory. This warning
probably saved Charles's liberty.--M. B.]

13th. All day, either at the office or at home, busy about bu